Okinawa Prefecture

One of the 47 prefectures of Japan. It is comprised of over 160 islands, 47 of which are inhabited remote islands. *As of January 2018

Administration of the prefecture is divided among 11 cities, 11 towns, and 19 villages.

Population

Approx. 1.44 million people *As of May 2018

Total Land Area

2281.12㎢ *As of October 2015

Prefectural Capital

Naha City

Home to the Okinawa Prefectural Office, Naha Airport, commuter and freight ports, and more. The area surrounding Naha City is the prefecture’s largest urban area, and serves as the cultural and economic capital of Okinawa.

Language

Japanese

Japanese is the main language in Okinawa, but English is understood at many tourist facilities and hotels.

Geography

Surrounded by the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the 160 large and small islands that make up the Okinawan Islands are divided into geographical archipelagos such as the Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands, and others. Situated at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago, their location provides convenient access to the mainland Japan and several regions throughout Asia.

Climate (Subtropical/Oceanic climate)

Temperature

Okinawa is warm and comfortable throughout the year. In Naha, the average temperature in July, the hottest month, is 28.9 ℃. Being surrounded by sea, temperatures rarely reach above 35 ℃ in summer, while in January, the coldest month, the average temperature is 17 ℃.

Seasonal Changes

The rainy season starts in May, with heavy precipitation for the duration. However, once the rainy season ends in late June, it gets hot and sunny. The peak of summer lasts into August and September, but this is also typhoon season and caution is required. Beginning in October, the heat lets up and the weather is quite pleasant. As winter approaches around December, it gets cold but it never snows. Okinawa’s winters sometimes have strong winds that further drop temperatures, so please be sure to guard against the cold. It gets warmer in March, but there are still some chilly days, so keep a jacket handy.